Reasons families choose reburial
- Reuniting in a family grave: a husband and wife are buried in different cemeteries, and the children want their parents to rest together.
- Moving to the village: a relative was once buried in Tbilisi, and now the family is moving them to lie with the ancestors in the home village.
- From the village to the city: the family has lived in Tbilisi for many years, and the ageing children find it hard to travel to the village grave.
- Abroad: the family has emigrated and wants their parent's remains in the country where they now live.
- Damage to the plot: the grave has been damaged by a landslide, water or construction work, and the remains need to be moved somewhere safe.
An exhumation ordered in a criminal case is arranged by a court or the investigating authorities and carried out by state experts. In that situation we help the family organise the second burial once the remains are returned to them.
Permits and rules
An exhumation cannot happen at any time simply because someone wishes it. It requires several permits, each with its own conditions:
- Family consent: the application is signed by the next of kin. If there are several relatives with an equal claim, such as brothers and sisters, written consent from all of them is sometimes required.
- Cemetery permits: from both the cemetery the remains are leaving and the one where the reburial will take place.
- A public health permit: the sanitary authority assesses how long it has been since the burial and under what conditions the work may be done. That is why exhumations are usually scheduled for the cold season.
- Documents relating to the deceased: the death certificate and the grave card; if they have been lost, we obtain copies from the archive.
Collecting the permits usually takes one to three weeks. Throughout that time the family hears about every stage, while we prepare the new grave and the new coffin in parallel.
Stages of the work
- Assessment: the crew leader inspects both graves on site: the type of burial, the headstone, the railing, access and whether the new place is ready. The family receives photos and a written estimate.
- Planning the day: the exhumation and the reburial take place on the same day, early in the morning when the cemetery is quiet. If the family would like a priest present, we invite one in advance.
- Screened work: a screen is put up around the old grave so the work cannot be seen by visitors. The family does not need to attend, and most relatives come only to the reburial.
- Transferring the remains: the remains are placed with care in a new coffin or a purpose-made casket of the right size, which is then closed. Parts of the old coffin and the soil are disposed of under sanitary rules.
- Transport: by hearse, to the new cemetery in Tbilisi or in a region.
- Reburial: in a grave prepared beforehand, with a panikhida (Orthodox memorial service) if the family wishes, and with relatives present.
- Restoring the old site: the former grave is filled in and tidied, and the headstone, as the family decides, either moves to the new grave or stays where it was.
Prices
| Service | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Exhumation and reburial within Tbilisi | from 1,500 GEL | permits, crew, screen, new coffin or casket, hearse, burial in a prepared grave |
| Preparing the new resting place | from 400 GEL | a new grave, or opening a family grave at 350 to 600 GEL |
| Moving the remains to a village or another town | 1.5 GEL per kilometre | out and back, measured from Tbilisi |
| Moving the headstone to the new grave | after assessment | dismantling, transport, new foundation and installation |
| Moving the remains abroad | separate estimate | international documents, sealed casket, air cargo |
Cemetery administration fees are paid separately against a receipt. The estimate is drawn up in writing after the inspection and does not change once work has begun. For moving remains overseas, our transport abroad page explains the international paperwork.
A new coffin or a casket for the remains
What is needed for the transfer depends on how many years have passed since the burial. If not long, the remains are placed in a full-size new coffin, which the family chooses in the usual way from our coffin range. After a long time, a small, sturdy wooden casket is enough: it is lighter, easier to transport, and needs only a small grave at the new site, which reduces both the work and the cost. Either way, the casket is lined with fabric inside, and a plate with the name and dates is fixed to the lid.
Reburial and the Church
Many believers worry that exhumation might go against church rules. The Orthodox Church does not regard moving remains for a worthy reason, such as reuniting a family or burying someone beside their ancestors, as impermissible, but we advise discussing your particular case with your own priest. Often a priest prays at both places: at the old grave before work begins and at the new one during the reburial. If the family wishes, we will help arrange such a ceremony.
Reasons exhumations are scheduled in the cold season
For sanitary reasons, working with remains in the summer heat is difficult and undesirable, so both the sanitary service and common practice favour the colder months, from late autumn to early spring. This also gives the family time to gather the permits and prepare the new grave and headstone. If the move is urgent, for example because the grave has been damaged, we also work in other seasons, following the sanitary service's conditions.
Village to city, and city to village
The most common journeys go in two directions. In the first, a family that has long lived in Tbilisi moves a parent's remains from a village cemetery to the capital so they can visit the grave regularly. In the second it is the reverse: a relative was once buried in the city, and the family now wants them to rest in the village beside the ancestors. In both cases permits are issued by two different administrations, and on the village side the community and the church often need to be involved. The coordinator works with both sides at once, so that the exhumation and the reburial happen on a single day. The journey itself is charged in the same way as our regional transport.
The headstone at the new site
The headstone from the old grave is often precious to the family as a keepsake, and it can be moved if the stone is intact and its size suits the new plot. The craftsmen lift it carefully off its foundation, load it onto soft padding and set it up at the new site on a fresh foundation, renewing the inscription or adding a name if needed. If the old headstone is fragile or the family wants a new one, we leave the old one in place or, with the family's agreement, dispose of it respectfully. New stones are described on our headstones page.
The emotional side
For a family, exhumation often reopens an old grief, even when the decision has been maturing for years. Here are a few suggestions families have found helpful. Being present at the exhumation itself is not necessary and is often not recommended, especially for older relatives. The reburial can become a real ceremony, with a memorial service, flowers and the people who loved them, and for many families that moment brings a sense of peace and completion. And if the family is not of one mind, it is worth reaching a decision together before any permits are applied for.
Frequently asked questions
How much do exhumation and reburial cost in Tbilisi?
From 1,500 GEL: permits, the work, a new coffin or casket, transport and burial in a prepared grave. Preparing the new resting place and cemetery fees are charged separately.
How many years must pass before an exhumation is allowed?
The sanitary service judges each case individually, based on the time since burial and the soil. We will tell you the exact conditions before the application is filed.
How long does the whole process take?
The permits usually take one to three weeks, while the work itself and the reburial take a single day, from early morning until about noon.
Does the family need to be present at the exhumation?
No. The work is done behind a screen, and most relatives come only to the reburial. If someone in the family wants to be there, we respect that.
Can the remains of two relatives be moved into one family grave at the same time?
Yes, and it is often the most practical choice: the permits are processed together, the work happens on one day and the reburial is a single ceremony, which also lowers the cost.
What happens to the old headstone?
As the family prefers, we move it to the new grave on a fresh foundation or leave it at the old site. If it does not suit the new plot, we can make a new one.
Moving a loved one to a new resting place is a big, carefully considered step, and it deserves gentleness. Share your situation with our coordinator by phoning +995 568 33 03 18. Unhurriedly, they will explain which permits apply and how long they take, and we will guide every stage, from the first permit to the new memorial service, calmly and with dignity.